Catalogue 2004-05

*Satisfies general education.

**Any upper division course in AME.

***An approved AME design course (select from AME 408, AME 430, or any special topic design course).

*Satisfies general education Category III.

Minor in Music Recording

A minor in music recording is offered through the Thornton School of Music to provide undergraduate students with the background necessary to enter the field of recording engineering and to familiarize them with the design needs of modern recording equipment. The minor is recommended to mechanical engineering majors with extensive musical training who would like to combine their technical and musical abilities while learning the engineering applications of physical and mathematical principles to the art of music recording. See the listing under the USC Thornton School of Music.

4+1 Program

The 4+1 Program offers qualified students the opportunity to simultaneously complete the requirements for the B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years. Students are eligible for the 4+1 Program upon completing 96 or more units toward their B.S. with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Qualified students who are interested should see their advisor in their junior year to begin planning for the inclusion of graduate courses during their senior year. Students should apply to the graduate program in the fall of their senior year. Eligible students will be automatically accepted to the M.S. program without needing to take the GRE. All requirements for both the B.S. and M.S. degrees must be met; however, up to six units of course work will be counted toward satisfying the unit requirements of both programs. Application information may be obtained in the School of Engineering Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Students should see their departmental advisors for assistance with course selection.

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Requirements for the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering are the same as set forth in the general requirements. Six of the required units must be in AME 525 and AME 526 or courses in engineering analysis approved in advance in writing by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The specific sequence of courses that constitutes an acceptable program must be approved in advance.

Requirements for Graduation Without Thesis, 27 units total with 3.0 GPA: AME 525 and AME 526 or approved mathematics (6); 500 level courses in major department (12); approved 400 or 500 level courses (9).

With Thesis, 27 units total with 3.0 GPA: AME 525 and AME 526 or approved mathematics (6); 500 or 600 level courses in major department (12) not including thesis; maximum AME 594ab -- thesis (4); approved 400 or 500 level units (5) (a maximum total of eight units combining AME 590 and AME 594ab).

Recommended Programs of Study

The program of study depends upon the student's interest and background. During the first semester at USC, students must consult with a departmental faculty advisor in the area of concentration and draw up a plan of study, which must be approved by the advisor. Besides the common requirements, listed below are several areas in mechanical engineering with specific courses identified as core and core electives. Groups of courses in other combinations and from other departments within the university may be approved if a particular coordinated interest can be demonstrated. In some instances students whose background is not in mechanical engineering may be required to take additional course work.

Common Requirements

Engineering Analysis (6 units): AME 525, AME 526

Engineering Electives (3-6 units): Approved 400-, 500- or 600-level courses

Engineering Design

Core courses (9 units): AME 503, AME 505, AME 509

Core electives (6 units): Two courses from AME 404, AME 501, AME 506, AME 527, AME 541, AME 549a, CE 529

Thermal and Fluid Sciences

Core courses (12 units): Four courses from one of the selected areas:

Combustion: AME 436, AME 513, AME 514, AME 530a

Fluid Dynamics: AME 457, AME 511, AME 530a, AME 535a

Heat Transfer: AME 457, AME 515, AME 516, AME 517

Core electives (6 units): Take two courses from the following list, not duplicating the above selection: AME 436, AME 457, AME 511, AME 513, AME 514, AME 515, AME 516, AME 517, AME 530a, AME 533, AME 535a, AME 535b, AME 537

Mechanics and Materials

Core courses (12 units): AME 509, AME 559, AME 560, AME 584

Core elective (3 units): One of AME 542, AME 588, CE 529a

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Core courses (12 units): AME 455, AME 537, BME 551, EE 607

Core elective (3 units): One of AME 520a, AME 535a, AME 564

Dynamics and Control

Students interested in this area may follow the M.S., Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics and Control) described below.

Masters of Science in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics and Control)

The Master of Science with emphasis in Dynamics and Control educates and trains multidisciplinary professionals in the modeling, analysis, simulation and control of complex time-evolutionary systems. It is a program of study that encompasses advanced analytical dynamics, nonlinear dynamical systems, linear and nonlinear dynamics and vibrations, and linear and nonlinear control. The program equips students to apply their knowledge to a variety of complex systems encountered in nature and society, especially those in civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering and applied mechanics.

Students will be given advisement in the first semester of their study. In addition to AME 525 and AME 526, students are required to take the following core courses: AME 521, AME 522, AME 524, AME 541, AME 552. Elective courses can be chosen in areas of specific interest to the student such as orbital dynamics, spacecraft control, aircraft dynamics and control, chaos and chaotic dynamics, random vibrations, computer control of mechanical systems and robotics. The program provides the graduate student with a broad, well-rounded, advanced education that can be applied to many specific, technologically advanced fields in which dynamics and control play a pivotal role.

Master of Science in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics)

See listing under Aerospace Engineering Degrees.

Engineer in Mechanical Engineering

Requirements for the Engineer in Mechanical Engineering degree are the same as set forth in the general requirements. Six of the units required for the degree must be AME 690. Prior approval must be obtained from the committee before registration in AME 690.

Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering is also offered. See general requirements for graduate degrees.